Paxton sues UK

Posted: Wed 11:03 PM, Dec 02, 2009

The New York Times is reporting pitcher James Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the University of Kentucky, charging that athletic department officials threatened to prevent him from playing if he did not agree to meet with NCAA investigators.

Paxton, a first-round draft pick in the June amateur draft, said a UK official told him in October to meet with an NCAA investigator, but was never told what rules, if any, he was accused of violating. The lawsuit also states that Paxton was instructed to not tell his parents or his lawyers about the interview.

Paxton also said that UK athletics director, Mitch Barnhart, told him that he would not be allowed to play until he submitted to the interview. Paxton said he has never been told the nature of the allegations against him.

The left-handed pitcher was taken with the 37th pick in the draft by Toronto, but decided instead to come back to school.

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